Strengthening capacity of health systems is at the centre of the global access to the health debate. The current world health situation is characterised by gross health inequities across countries and within countries, determined by different factors. In the WHO burden of disease estimates, 2002 shows that low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are confronted with the double burden of communicable diseases and non-communicable diseases, while the high income countries have only that of non-communicable conditions. Communicable diseases with HIV/AIDS, the occurrence of new infections such as the SARS and the threat of avian influenza pandemic are at the core of global health concerns. Therefore strengthening the long-term capacity of the public sector is important with respect to global access to health. But there is no limit set to health needs. One should consider a national health system comprising public and private, based on a primary health care (PHC) approach (as defined at the Alma Ata World Conference, 1978) with ?a package of basic healthcare services that guarantees equal opportunities to health for all.